Dissecting The State Bid-rigging Scandal

April 13, 2003|By Michele Jacklin

It was a little jarring when Kristine Ragaglia announced in mid-December, without warning, that she had decided not to seek another term as commissioner of the state Department of Children and Families.

Sure, there had been some criticism of her agency, accusations that staffers had mishandled a few child-protection cases and allegations of mismanagement. But overall, DCF had compiled a remarkably solid record compared with child welfare agencies across the country.

What's more, other commissioners in the Rowland administration had blundered and bungled their way through their four-year terms and still managed to breeze through the legislature's confirmation process.

But now, Ragaglia's surprising decision is beginning to make more sense, thanks to information that's been gleaned from news reports and a hearing on bid-rigging by the legislature's Government Administration and Elections Committee.

At the GAE hearing, Public Works Commissioner Theodore R. Anson testified that it was DCF -- not the governor's office -- that urged the General Assembly to bypass the state's competitive bidding process and fast-track a new $57 million juvenile justice facility to replace Long Lane School in Middletown. Lawmakers overwhelmingly endorsed DCF's recommendation, thus freeing state officials from having to abide by routine checks and balances. That was the spring of 1999.

Lo and behold, a few months earlier Ragaglia had trekked out to Marion, Ohio, to view a juvenile correctional center that would become the prototype for the Connecticut facility. Accompanying Ragaglia were Lawrence E. Alibozek, Rowland's former deputy chief of staff who's pleaded guilty to illegally steering contracts, and two men now under federal investigation: former co-chief of staff Peter N. Ellef and William A. Tomasso, president of the construction company that was subsequently awarded the contract.

The final piece that brings this puzzle into focus is this: Ragaglia was a member of the panel that voted to award the contract to Tomasso's firm. Ragaglia sat on the panel even though Anson told lawmakers that the agency representative is typically ``someone who has expertise and familiarity with construction,'' such as an architect, engineer or building expert. Ragaglia is a lawyer.

Later during the GAE hearing, Anson asserted that he had ``no idea'' how Alibozek managed to influence the awarding of the contract to Tomasso, saying he was ``surprised and mystified.''

No doubt federal investigators will solve the mystery. Subpoenas were served in November and a second batch in December, about the time Ragaglia was announcing her imminent departure from the agency. Among the six departments that have been issued subpoenas are DCF and Public Works.

Ragaglia has denied any wrongdoing and said she raised concerns about Tomasso's presence on the Ohio trip but was barred from taking them directly to the governor. If she had questions about Tomasso's involvement, she shouldn't have sat on the panel or participated in the awarding of the contract.

Interestingly, Anson didn't raise any red flags either, despite admitting that it was unusual for a chief of staff to monitor a capital project so closely.

Obviously, whatever safeguards existed were insufficient. It didn't help that high-ranking officials had blinders on.

After sitting through hours of testimony, Rep. James O'Rourke, co-chairman of GAE, said he's convinced there's not only ``a lot of room for abuse'' in the state's bidding process but that ``some of the contracts were rigged.''

To that end, the committee adopted a bid-reform package designed to ``legislate honesty,'' which, of course, is about as effective as demanding that the governor pay attention to what's going on in his administration.

Nonetheless, the GAE bill would require increased oversight of fast-track projects, a ban on ``ex parte'' communications between state officials and contractors during the bidding process and other loophole-closing moves.

After telling legislators the investigation is none of their business and then circumventing the hearing process by asking Anson for recommendations to clean up the bidding process, Gov. Johnny-Come-Lately Rowland has said he will support the committee's reforms.

Ain't it always the way?

Michele Jacklin is The Courant's political columnist. Her column appears every Wednesday and Sunday. To leave her a comment, please call 860-241-3163.